Missing child found in sex offender’s car 3 days after being lured to his campsite

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (TCN) — A missing 11-year-old boy was found in the vehicle of a registered sex offender at a traffic stop on New Year’s Eve.

On Dec. 31, 2025, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced that they stopped a white Ford F-150 after a caller witnessed suspicious activity. During the stop, officers requested that the driver and all passengers exit the vehicle. After speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, Darnell Hairston, 60, and two children, ages 11 and 15, authorities determined one of the children had recently been reported missing in St. John’s County, Florida. 

The children were placed in a patrol vehicle as the investigation continued, the sheriff’s office said. Hairston then reportedly tried to flee and was apprehended after attempting to grab a deputy’s gun. Hairston was arrested for resisting an officer with violence and attempting to deprive an officer of their firearm, the sheriff’s office said. 

While Hairston was being arrested, 15-year-old Junior Bishop allegedly got into the truck and fled, hitting a deputy as he did so. Bishop was apprehended after a pursuit in which he allegedly entered oncoming traffic and then re-entered the lane to purposely hit the deputy’s vehicle, causing it to crash. Bishop’s vehicle then rolled over, the sheriff’s office said.

Bishop was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, driving without a license, and resisting an officer without violence. 

In a Jan. 2 update, the sheriff’s office announced that the 11-year-old, whom they described as appearing traumatized and in fear at the traffic stop, had been reported missing three days beforehand. After Hairston’s arrest, the child was transported to a local hospital for treatment and to be interviewed. 

 
During the interview with authorities, the child said he was lured to a campsite in a wooded area where Hairston choked him until he lost consciousness. He was then allegedly threatened by Hairston with a knife and a firearm, tied up, and had duct tape placed over his mouth. The child reported that he had been held at the campsite for several days and had to be covered with a blanket on the floorboard of the truck if Hairston needed to travel. 

The sheriff’s office reports that search warrants were conducted on Hairston’s home, car, and campsite. Items recovered in the searches were consistent with the child’s statements, and include duct tape, video surveillance equipment, and weapons. 

On Jan. 2, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Hairston for kidnapping, aggravated child abuse, battery by strangulation, and robbery with a deadly weapon. The warrant was served at the facility where Hairston was already being held for the previous arrest, and he is now being held without bond, the sheriff’s office said. 

Bishop may be a co-conspirator with Hairston and could face additional charges at the conclusion of the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

WESH reports both children belonged to a Snapchat group in which the 11-year-old warned other members that Hairston was a sexual predator. 

According to the sheriff’s office, Hairston is a registered sex offender with a lengthy criminal history and had been released after five years from the Florida Department of Corrections in 2009, where he had been serving a 12-year-sentence for false imprisonment. His previous charges also include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, sexual battery, and lewd or lascivious acts committed upon a child. 

The investigation is ongoing.

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